Sunday, May 23, 2010

Is it ok for a cat to eat rose petals?

This question was asked by others but I would like a definitive answer from someone who knows. Maybe a veternarian or vetinary student? My cat likes the red rose petals (Lincoln Roses) from our garden. Ok for the cat to eat, yes or no? And why?

Is it ok for a cat to eat rose petals?Your cat can still enjoy the rose petals...and clover, too! Our cats loved our rose garden, but would only eat the botton flowers, so we didnt' mind. We even planted extra for them! I worked as a volunteer to ASPCA for many years. It is okay!Reply:NO!!! Your cat is going to die a slow, yet horrible death!!! Just Kidding. The cat will be fine.Reply:Most of us are surrounded by plants, both wild and cultivated, in our homes and gardens and come to no harm. However, a small percentage of these plants have the potential to cause harm to ourselves and our cats.

Who is at risk ?

Most cats are fastidious creatures and are careful what they eat. Poisoning in cats is therefore generally rare. It is the young, inquisitive cat or kitten that is most at risk of eating harmful plants, particularly household ones. Boredom also has a part to play. When a cat is confined to a run or lives entirely indoors hazardous plants should be removed from its environment. Cats given free access to the outside world tend to have other things to occupy their minds than sampling unfamiliar vegetation. But even free roaming adult cats may accidentally ingest needles or seeds that have become entangled in their coat during grooming.

Cats don't eat plants !

All plants, even grass, can have an irritating effect on a cat's gastrointestinal system causing them to vomit. But, given the opportunity, cats like to nibble on grass. When not available their attention may turn to often less suitable household plants. Tender plants are generally a favourite. Particularly dangerous is Diffenbachia (dumb cane).

Preventive action

Remove all potentially hazardous household plants to prevent unnecessary exposure. This is especially important for kittens or cats kept indoors. A list of plants that are unsuitable to grow in a house with cats is given below.

Outdoors the story is not so simple. Free roaming cats have access to many gardens so it will be impossible to prevent all possible contact with potentially harmful plants. You can however remove the most toxic plants from your garden and make a note of any in your neighbour's gardens that are potentially dangerous. List common and Latin names. This list may help your vet if poisoning is suspected.

You can also ensure that any new additions to the garden are safe. The Horticultural Trade Association has a code of practice for its members and most garden centres and nurseries label plants that are toxic or cause skin reactions. Plants are grouped into three categories: A Poisonous; B Toxic if eaten; and C Harmful if eaten. You are unlikely to find a category A plant on sale - Poison Ivy being one example. Category B plants should be avoided. After gardening, never leave hedge clippings or uprooted plants near pets. Their novelty value may encourage inquisitive chewing. Sap from damaged stems can cause skin irritation as well as being poisonous. Bulbs, rhizomes and roots can be the most hazardous parts of some plants.

Hazardous plants

The following is a fairly comprehensive list of plants that are potentially poisonous or harmful to your cat when eaten. Contact with some of the plants listed may be sufficient to cause skin irritation (marked *) It is often the fruit or seeds of plants that are potentially harmful. Many of us are already familiar with plants that carry really toxic berries such as Deadly Nightshade. Only a small quantity of these need to be eaten for a fatal result. Other plants in the list may come as a surprise - Daffodils for example. Here, however, it is the bulb that causes harm if ingested.

The fact that the list contains some very common plants should not be cause for concern. Most of these potentially harmful plants taste bad and are unlikely to be eaten in sufficient quantities to cause permanent damage. Woody garden plants are also unlikely to be eaten by your cat - tender household plants pose most risk.

Hazardous plants

House plants

Amaryllis

Aphelandra

Castor Oil Plant, see Ricinus

Christmas Cherry, see Solanum

Chrysanthemum, see Dendranthema

Codiaeum

Croton, see Codiaeum

Cyclamen

Dumb cane, see Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia *

Devil's Ivy, see Epipremnum aureum

Elephant's Ear, see Alocasia, Caladium

Epipremnum aureum

Ferns

Holly, see Ilex

Hypoestes phyllostachya

Hyacinthus

Ivy, see Hedera

Mistletoe, see Viscum

Nerium oleander

Oleander see Nerium

Ornithogalum

Poinsettia, see Euphorbia

Senecio

Star of Bethlehem, see Ornithogalum umbellatum

Umbrella Plant, see Schefflera

Zebra Plant, see Aphelandra

Garden plants

Abrus precatorius

Aconitum *

Actaea

Aesculus

Agrostemma githago

Aleurites

Allium

Alocasia

Alstroemeria *

Anagallis

Anemone

Angel's Trumpets, see Brugmansia

Angel Wings, see Caladium

Apricot, see Prunus armeniaca

Aquilegia

Arisaema

Arum

Astragalus

Atropa

Avocado, see Persea americana

Azalea, see Rhododendron

Baneberry, see Actaea

Bird of Paradise, see Strelitzia

Black-eyed Susan, see Thunbergia

Bloodroot, see Sanguinaria

Box, see Buxus

Broom, see Cytisus

Brugmansia

Bryony

Buckthorn, see Rhamnus

Burning Bush, see Dictamnus

Buttercup, see Ranunculus

Buxus

Cherry Laurel see Prunus laurocerasus

Chincherinchee see Ornithogalum

Caesalpinia

Caladium

Caltha *

Catharanthus

Celastrus

Centaurea cyanus

Cestrum

Chrysanthemum see Dendranthema

Clematis

Colchicum

Columbine see Aquilegia

Conium

Convallaria majalis

Corncockle, see Agrostemma githago

Cornflower, see Centaurea cyanus

Cotoneaster

Crocus, see Colchicum

x Cupressocyparis leylandii *

Cyclamen

Cytisus

Daffodil, see Narcissus

Daphne *

Datura *

Delphinium

Delonix

Dendranthema *

Dicentra

Dictamnus

Digitalis

Echium *

Euonymus

Euphorbia *

Elder, see Sambucus

False acacia, see Robinia

Fems

Ficus

Flax see Linum

Frangula see Rhamnus

Fremontodendron *

Foxglove see Digitalis

Four o'clock: see Mirabilis jalapa

Galanthus

Gaultheria

Giant Hog Weed, see Heracleum mantegazzianum

Gloriosa superba

Glory Lily see Gloriosa

Hedera *

Helleborus *

Hemlock, see Conium

Henbane, see Hyoscyamus

Heracleum mantegazzianum

Hippeastrum

Holly, see Ilex

Horse-chestnut, see Aesculus

Hyacinthus

Hydrangea

Hyoscyamus

Impatiens

Ipomoea

Iris

Ivy, see Hedera

Ilex

Jasminum

Juniperus sabina

Kalmia

Laburnum

Lantana

Lathyrus

Larkspur, see Delphinium

Lilium

Lily of the Valley, see Convallaria

Linum

Ligustrum

Lobelia (except bedding Lobelia) *

Lords and Ladies (Cuckoo pint), see Arum

Lupinus

Lycopersicon *

Lysichiton

Madagascar periwinkle, see Catharanthus

Marigold, see Tagetes

Melia

Mirabilis jalapa

Monkswood, see Aconitum

Morning Glory, see Ipomoea

Narcissus

Nerium oleander

Nicotiana

Nightshade, deadly, see Atropa

Nightshade, woody, see Solanum

Oak, see Quercus

Onion, see Allium

Oxytropis

Paeonia

Papaver

Parthenocissus

Peach, see Prunus persica

Peony, see Paeonia

Pernettya

Persea americana

Philodendron

Physalis

Phytolacca *

Pokeweed, see Phytolacca

Poppy, see Papaver

Polygonatum

Primula obconica *

Privet see Ligustrum

Prunus armeniaca

Prunus laurocerasus

Prunus persica

Quercus

Rhamus (including R.frangula)

Rhododendron

Rhus *

Ricinus

Robinia

Rosary pea, see Abrus precatorius

Rubber plant, see Ficus

Rudbeckia

Rue, see Ruta

Ruta

Sambucus

Sanguinaria

Schefflera *

Scilla

Skunk cabbage, see Lysichiton

Snowdrop, see Galanthus

Solandra

Solanum

Solomon's seal, see Polygonatum

Spindle Tree, see Euonymus

Spurge, see Euphorbia

Strelitzia

Sumach, see Rhus

Sweet pea, see Lathyrus

Tagetes

Tanacetum

Taxus

Tetradymia

Tobacco, see Nicotiana

Tomato, see Lycopersicon

Thornapple, see Datura

Thuja *

Tulipa *

Veratrum

Viscum

Wisteria

Yew, see Taxus

* Contact with these plants may be sufficient to cause skin irritationReply:http://www.petco.com/Content/Article.asp...

Roses are not on this long list of toxic plants.Reply:No is not good for your cat to eat rose petals as it could kill him or do some serious damage to your cat. I would do everything that I could to stop him from doing so.Reply:If the petals are plastic no.But if its real petals then your cat needs vitamins.Reply:It wont hurt the cat but there are some that will harm the cat such as Pointsetters